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The New Zealand women's pursuit team claimed the silver medal at the World Cup track cycling meet in France.
The New Zealanders were pipped by just 0.6sec in the final by perennial rivals Australia, while the Kiwi women's team sprint finished an impressive fourth, in the first time at the World Cup medal decider.
It proved a mixed day with a mechanical mishap when Sam Webster's unclipped from the pedal, costing the men's team sprinting any chance, while the men's team could not replicate their first day form, finishing sixth.
The new-look women's team pursuit, under the guidance of new coaches Ross Machejefski and Alexandra Greenfield, qualified fast yesterday. Today they have gone to Germany in the first round in 4: 20,143, similar to their qualifying effort.
Australia set the marker with a 4: 18.441 effort to beat the Italians in the other clash to take the favorites tag into the final.
Australia opened the narrowest of margins after the first 1000m but there was just a blink of the eye separating the two at 2000m with the gap at only 0.7s at 3000m.
The Kiwi quartet of Kirstie James, Holly Edmondston, Rushlee Buchanan and Bryony Botha fought back to almost the Australians in an exciting final four laps. While they had to settle for second in 4: 17,560 the quartet were rewarded not only with their first World Cup silver medal goal in New Zealand record in the process, bettering the previous time set at the Rio Olympics.
"It's a really good starting point," said Buchanan. "We are a fresh team and not tapered. It is the first time this group has been together, and while we had a few hiccups in the first two wrinkles, we were calm and collected today.
"It is a testament to the work we have been doing and we have been creating, and the benefit of that came out in the end when we were down and we were proud of it."
National champion Kirstie James endorsed the impact of the new coaching staff and approach.
"The turning point has been the culture shift. We have developed a lot of trust with each other. A fresh start with new coaching staff and Cycling New Zealand staff in general has made a big impact in how we operate which I think is positive moving forward. "
The women's team sprint combination of Emma Cumming and Hansen Natasha achieved the first medal ride at the World Cup in that event.
They qualify fastest fastest in Australia with 32.845. The Kiwi has a national record of 33.325 only 0.2 off the national record, but qualified them for the bronze medal ride. They managed a solid 33,477 but were discounted by Ukraine while Russia pipped Australia by 0.001 in the final.
"We are very happy," said Emma Cumming. "It was a great chance to ride three wrinkles. It's the first time we've achieved that we've made the most of the world.
"We were close to our best time and it was a personal best to be so happy that we are looking forward to seeing you again next week."
The men's team sprint, looking to build their win at the Oceania Championships, from the vagaries of mechanics to railroad their World Cup start.
They had a false start in their qualifying ride, to earn a re-start, but in the re-run Sam Webster's foot slipped out of the pedal. With teams only to have re-run, he had to continue, 20m to the flying and Ethan Mitchell in first wheel.
While Webster attempted to recover and Eddie Dawkins put in the fastest third-lap effort of all riders, the team could only manage 45.153s to finish 12th fastest of the 15 teams.
"It's just one of those things in this sport, you only get a second chance," said New Jersey High Performance director Martin Barras. "The upside is that we know the boys are in good with Ethan and Eddie very fast. The downside is that it's going to be qualifying now and they'll be in Canada next week. "
The men's team were pursued by the Olympic Champions Great Britain in their first round after the top six teams were separated by one second in qualifying.
The Kiwis were only as impressive as 3: 56.268 only sixth best, while Rio bronze medalists Denmark beat the British in the final.
"We were looking for more competitive tonight," said coach Brendon Cameron. "We qualified in a 3:55 and were surprised that basically six nations were within one of each other, with everyone here with their A teams.
"We had a tough draw but no excuses because we did not execute like yesterday. We were looking to go faster but we did not back-up.
"While we will learn from this it was a little bit disappointing. We need to recover and head to Milton and front up again. We are here in the shape of this year with new riders but we have not been able to do this.
Michaela Drummond finished in the 20km Race Points, with the best sprint finishes and the top seven riders.
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